Daniel 4: At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.

Daniel 4:34-37 His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. 35 All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. 35 All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing.

Daniel 4:34-37 He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?” He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?”

Daniel 4: At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before.

37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble. Daniel 4:34-37

God Almighty Reigns

(I Timothy 1:17)

Sovereign...   as a verb   “to rule”   as a noun   “King” or “absolute ruler”

To say that God is sovereign is to say that God is in charge of the entire universe all the time.

  Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the counsel of the L ORD will stand. (Prov. 19:21 )   Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? (Lam. 3:37 )

  Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” (James 4:15 )   “I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.” (Job 42:2 )   But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases. (Psalm 115:3 )

1. 1. Humility Praise & Exaltation Mystery Clarity Empowerment Five by-products of understanding God’s sovereignty:

Extra, Extra, Read All About It!   Daniel 4   Nebuchadnezzar - conquered Jerusalem during the days of Jeremiah   Lamentations   Daniel - events take place in Babylon & describe how God’s people fared in this foreign country

King clears up some vicious rumors & learns that the hard way. God Almighty Reigns

“It has seemed good to me to declare the signs and wonders which the Most High God has done for me. How great are His signs and how mighty are His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and His dominion is from generation to generation.” (Daniel 4:2-3 )

His description of his life. I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace. (Daniel 4:4 )

He had four things that everyone in the world desires:   Palace   Peace   Prosperity   Power

“I saw a dream and it made me fearful; and these fantasies as I lay on my bed and the visions in my mind kept alarming me.” (Daniel 4:5 )

He shouted out and spoke as follows: “Chop down the tree and cut off its branches, strip off its foliage and scatter its fruit; let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches.” (Daniel 4:14 )

“Yet leave the stump with its roots in the ground, but with a band of iron and bronze around it in the new grass of the field; and let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him share with the beasts in the grass of the earth. Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let a beast’s mind be given to him, and let seven periods of time pass over him.” (Daniel 4:15-16 )

“Nezzer”  The king, like us needed to learn a lesson  and you will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the beasts of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and seven periods of time will pass over you until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes. (Daniel 4:32 )

“Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” ( 4:30 ) Moo

Don’t you want the beast to go away? We need to do what “Nezzer” eventually did.

God is determined to teach us that

Taming the Beast   7 long years of grass pie and chewing his cud.   “But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever; for His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation.” (Daniel 4:34 )

He looked up. He woke up. He spoke up.

1. 1. He rules and reigns eternally:   “His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation.” ( v.34b ) He is greater than the greatest:   “All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing.” ( v.35a ) Things to know about our Sovereign God:

3. 3. He does whatever He pleases:   “He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth.” ( v.35b ) He defends Himself to no one:   “No one can hold back his hand or say to him: ‘What have you done?’” ( v.35c )

5. 5. He never makes mistakes:   “because everything he does is right and all his ways are just.” ( v.37b ) He deflates those who are puffed up:   “And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.” ( v.37c )

Pride is not just for the powerful, rich or famous.

1. 1. Renounce your sins & do right.   “Therefore, O king, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.” (Daniel 4:27 ) Two Action Steps:

2. Submit to His Lordship and Leadership!

“The proud man is always looking down. As long as you look down you can never see what’s above you.” C.S. Lewis

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father ( Phil. 2:10-11 )

Remember, one way or the other Every Knee Shall Bow.